Collapsible tube closure



May 24, 1932.

i lnvehfor 52m/Rr CA2-2525,?

Y Allorney and which automatically Patented May 24, 1932 BEBY CHARLESIEEBLER, 0F SECAUS, NEW JERSEY coLLarsnaLn ruim cLosUnE f Applicationled Hay 16, 1980. Serial No. 452,958.

` This invention relates to improvements in collapsible tubeclosures.

The primary object of the invention resides in a valve means for closingand tightly. sealing the discharge outlet of a collapsible tube, op enswhen the tube is squeezed to dispense a quantity of'its contents due tothe pressure caused thereby, and which automatically closes when thepressure is released.

. parts,

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve closure which maybe wiped clean by the brush onto which the contents of the tube aredispensed in order that the discharge outlet may be kept in a clean andsanitary condition at all times.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a closure capwhich may be threaded to the discharge nipple of a collapsible tube andwhen once attached, the same does not have to be removed or separatedfrom the tube to facilitate the dis ensing of the tube contents, whichis an o jection to the present easily become separated or lost,whichsubjects the contents of the tube to the atmosphere which tends toharden and spoil the contents thereof.

A still. further object is to provide a collapsible tube closure whichis simple and easy of construction, inexpensive of manufacture, andwhich may be attached and used on one tube until the contents areexhausted, and then thoroughly cleaned and applied to another tube forfurther use thereon.

` With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in thecertain novel construction, combination and arrangement of the essentialfeatures of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularlyointed out in the appended claims, and are lllustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of my inventio Figure2 is an endelevational view ofthe form shownl in Figure 1.

In the drawing I have illustrated a structure whereby a predeterminedamount of the contents of a collapsible tube may be dis-V removable capwhich may pensed in each squeezing operation ofthe tube, and includescap-like casing designated by the numeral 39, which casing is open atone end and internally screw threaded as at 4Q, while the opposite endis closed and pro-y vided .wlth a beveled valve seat 41. Coacting withthe seat 41 is a beveled valve head 42 from which extends a threadedshank 43, the said shank being split inwardly from its free end as at 44for a purpose presently to be explained. Associated with the valve head42 an` d shank 43 is a valve member'45, the same bemg provided with acentral threaded bore 46 for threading connection with the shank 43. Theouter end of the valve member 45 is beveled as at 47, the direction ofthe bevel being opposlte to the bevel o'n the valve head 42 and beingspaced therefrom to facilitate the passage of a predetermined quantityof the contents of the tube during the interval of movement of the valvehead 42 to an open position land the beveled face 47 to a closedposition against the walls of the discharge opening. The inner end ofthe valve member 45 is provided with an annular scalloped flange 48,while interposed between the flange 48 and the closed end wall of thecasing is an expansion spring 49, the said spring tending to normallyseat .the'beveled valve head 42 upon the seat 41. p

In the use of my invention, assume that the cap 39 is threadedlyconnected to the discharge nipple of a collapsible tube. Upon squeezingof the tube, the contents will pack against the endwall of the casing 39and when the pressure built up by the squeezing of the tube reaches apoint in excess of the tension of the spring 49, the pressure of thecontents acting against the beveled head 42 will tend to unseat the saidvalve head, thus permitting such quantity of the contents to escape asmay pass therethrough during the interval required for the beveled endof the valve member 45 toseat against the walls of the dischargeopening. The valve head. 42 and valve member 45-cooperate to act as adouble acting valve andv when lthe valve member 45 is in sealingengagement with the walls of the discharge opening, no matter how muchpressureis applied to the tube,

only the ro rtionate amount of the peon-v tents may charged, When thepressure is released, the spring 49 acts to return the parts tonormalpositionas shown in Figure I of the drawing. Although I haveillustratedmy improved v valve closure mechanism in connection with a closure cap,I wish it to be understood that the same may be builtor installed withinthe discharge nipple of a collapsible tube if dev sired, but byembodying the same in a screw cap, the said cap may be taken from onetube after the contents have been full dispensed and applied to anothercollapsib e tube. In other words, the closure ca'p 1s not limitedto useupon one individual tube. Y While I have'shown and described whatI deemto be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, it -will beunderstood that certain other changes in construction may be resorted toif desired, and I therefore do not restrict myself to the exact detailsof construction herein shown and set forth, nor to anything less thanthe whole of my invenvtion limited only by the appended claims.

I-Iaving thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire-tosecure by Letters l Patent is 1. A closure device for collapsible tubescomprising a cap-like casing open at one end, A

the opposlte closed end having a discharge opening therein, the walls ofsaid discharge opening being beveled to provide a valve seat, abeveledvalve head for seating engagement with said seat, a valve memberwithmsaid casing and associated with said valvehead and provided with abeveled end wall, the beveled portion being opposite to the bevel ofsaid beveled valve head, andv spaced 'there- 40 from, a flange at theinner end thereof, and

spring means actin upon said valve member to maintain said va ve headseated upon said "seat, said spring means including an expansion springsurrounding said valve member with one end seated against said flangeand its opposite edge abutting the end wall of said casing. r

2. A closure device for collapsible tubes including a hollow body memberhaving an A:so end wall provided with a discharge opening therein, thewall of said discharge opemng being bevelled to provide a valve seat, abevelled valve head for seating engagement with r said valve seat, avalve member within said body and connected with said valve head, a

bevelled portion provided on said valve member and spaced from saidbevelled valve head, the said bevelled portion being opposite to thebevel of said bevelled valve head, a flange at the inner end of saidvalve'member, and a spring having one end seated against said -flangeand its other end abutting the said end wall of said body..

In testimonyrwhereof I aix m si atu're. Ripl HENR CHARLES EB R.

